Tresiba (insulin degludec) may not be safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. Factors including the form you take or the condition being treated may determine whether you should use the drug during this time.
Tresiba is used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It’s important to note that not treating this condition during pregnancy may also carry certain risks.
Because of this, you and your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of taking Tresiba while pregnant versus not treating your condition during pregnancy.
It’s not known if Tresiba is safe to use during pregnancy. This is because the drug hasn’t been studied in pregnant people. However, studies in animals found that the effects of Tresiba in pregnancy were similar to those seen with normal human insulin. (This means it didn’t cause harmful effects.)
Having untreated diabetes during pregnancy is known to be unsafe for both the pregnant person and the fetus.
Insulin is recommended by the American Diabetes Association as the preferred treatment for managing blood sugar levels in pregnant people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant while using Tresiba, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Your body’s insulin requirements may change during pregnancy. If you’ll be using Tresiba, your dosage may need to be different during your pregnancy.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Tresiba could have on you or the child who is breastfed.
Insulin (including Tresiba) is usually considered safe to use during breastfeeding. Insulin can’t be absorbed from your gut. So even if insulin does get into your breast milk, a nursing child can’t absorb any insulin that they consume in the milk. Therefore, if you take insulin while you’re breastfeeding, it can’t affect your nursing child.
However, your doctor will likely change your insulin dosage while you’re breastfeeding. Your body goes through many changes after you’ve given birth. Plus, your sleeping and eating patterns may be inconsistent once you have a baby. These changes can affect your blood sugar levels.
If you plan to breastfeed while using Tresiba, talk with your doctor about how your dosage may need to change.
If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it’s important to consider how Tresiba could affect your birth control options.
It’s not known if Tresiba is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and are able to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Tresiba.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
